IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome)

[quovadis]

I stopped smoking June 2009.
Ever since i have been vaping non stop.
Last Thursday after a colonoscopy i was diagnosed with Irritable bowel syndrome.
I have no idea if vaping could possibly have contributed to this, in part. (I will never know).

The doctor asked me what had changed in the past year ...diet? sleep? stress? ..
I told him that diet is the same and i exercise regularly and eat very healthily, and stress is at normal levels..
The only habit that I have changed is the smoking to vaping.
I'm just documenting this, should others suddenly come down with IBS, or other gastrointestinal problems.

Not that it would stop us from vaping anyway !!

So the doctor suggests I stop vaping for a few weeks to see how i feel.
I told him that was not going to happen.

 

[four2109]

Did you have symptoms or did they just say you had it after a routine colonoscopy?

 

[Hawk52501]

It could have been a coincidence, or who knows it could have triggered it. In my case switching from smoking to vaping has actually helped with my IBS....fewer symptoms and less frequent.

 

[jlmanno]

I've been helping out my brother in law who has severe CROHNS with IBS and nicotine now vaping has actually helped him although he's only a few week's into it. his severe bouts of IBS have been decreased in frequency with vaping, he was worse when he quit smoking analogs due to not being able to work, he was living in the bathroom. I was able to put a vaping kit together for him and he's seen some improvement. We'll see. Best of luck to you guys they're tough diseases but can be managed. Take care!

 

[Karl the heretiK]

As a long-time sufferer of IBS and diverticulitis, I highly recommend taking probiotics... my GI doctor, whose a straight-up, medically-trained practitioner for over 35 years, turned me on to Flora-Q... you would not believe how much better you might feel...

BTW, I have to ask... have you been on any antibiotics recently? Just a hunch I have...

 

[dark cobra]

I suffer from IBS too but was diagnosed about 1-2 years before i switched to vaping. Started using Anti-depress pills and as a side effect, my IBS got better. About 1-2 weeks into vaping IBS came back hard. All better now, went away after a couple of days. I blame it on the stress and chemical levels going out of whack due to the switch more than to vaping in itself. I wouldnt have been surprised to see the same thing happen if i cold turkied my way out or even used patches

After reading alot on the syndrome, i think not smoking anymore is more likely to be the culprit than vaping considering the actual chemicals part of vaping are absorbed/discarded before getting to the bowels...though i wouldnt mind if the flavoring would get there. Having a nice fresh scent of apple/cinnamon after a number 2 would be great!

 

[Jimmy_2k9]

Interesting topic.

Well, I've had IBS most of my life. I also have social anxiety disorder (not to an extreme, but its bad enough). Now, one thing that comes along with anxiety is an upset stomach. So I kind of get a double whammy. Nicotine is proven to increase anxiety just as caffeine does, so the fact that I smoke/vape and drink soda like crazy doesn't help anything in my case, lol.

So taking all that into consideration, perhaps You've up'd Your nicotine intake while vaping, perhaps causing some anxiety issues or maybe You have been known to have problems with some form of anxiety?


To make things simpler, You have to poop more now. Nicotine in ways can indeed make You have to poop, hell I even poop better while smoking/vaping on the john. So the question is, Do you take in "more" nicotine than before?


To be honest with You, there really could be much worse things in life than having to poop often. I find it relaxing, it works as an excuse, gives you time alone, keeps your bowls clean and I've had some of my best ideas pop into my head while pooping. IBS isn't all bad, IMO... lol

 

[mart.hart]

Sorbitol was my main problem.
Found in Nic gum and most other normal gum and soda.
Research has shown sorbitol is a major cause of IBS

 

[quovadis]

Gosh,
I'm in real trouble then..because i chew sugarless gum all day long.
I was chewing huge quantities of nic gum in from 2006~2009, and replaced the nicorette with Stride gum.
Yes i have been on and off penicillin these last few weeks because of an abscessed tooth.

I have only had two IBS attacks since mid 2009.
The first one just vanished after 8 days...I did not go for testing because i thought i had the stomach flu.
This second attack i got last week after stopping antibiotics.
Now, chronic constipation seems to be my primary worry. The cramping and nausea have subsided.
I joined an IBS forum but have not found real answers yet.
I remember when i joined this site to research Vaping ...i feel the same about the IBS site..so much stuff to learn about.

I have a continuous spot on Mcburneys point that is tender at the moment. Chronic constipation leads me to think that there could be an occlusion.

I definitively have to try Flora Q.

I have to sway off the gum..any ideas?
Are there any gums that do not contain sorbitol?

 

[Katmar]

Gosh,
I'm in real trouble then..because i chew sugarless gum all day long.
I was chewing huge quantities of nic gum in from 2006~2009, and replaced the nicorette with Stride gum.
Yes i have been on and off penicillin these last few weeks because of an abscessed tooth.

I have only had two IBS attacks since mid 2009.
The first one just vanished after 8 days...I did not go for testing because i thought i had the stomach flu.
This second attack i got last week after stopping antibiotics.
Now, chronic constipation seems to be my primary worry. The cramping and nausea have subsided.
I joined an IBS forum but have not found real answers yet.
I remember when i joined this site to research Vaping ...i feel the same about the IBS site..so much stuff to learn about.

I have a continuous spot on Mcburneys point that is tender at the moment. Chronic constipation leads me to think that there could be an occlusion.

I definitively have to try Flora Q.

I have to sway off the gum..any ideas?
Are there any gums that do not contain sorbitol?

There is a lot of info on probiotics out there. They actually develop different types for different illnesses. You definitely should get on some since you took antibiotics. Make sure you are getting the one with the correct bacteria.

 

[discoqueen]

quodavis and anyone else that has be diagnosed with IBS -

Doctors often use the diagnosis of IBS when they can't figure out what is wrong with you. IBS is syndrome - a collection of symptoms that could also fit with many other diagnoses.

I had this label slapped on me, and was given a script for anti-depressants which did nothing for me except make me not care about anything.

I had chronic alternating ........ and constipation for almost 10 years before I took matters into my own hands and started looking for real answers.

For me, it turned out to be my diet. Gluten was slowly killing me. (Wheat, Barley, Rye & Oats) I don't think I had it all my life, but I can think back many many years and know that I've had it since at least my junior high years. It was only the last 10 years that were really bad. Stress can actually trigger this disease into kicking in, and for me it was a case of mono at the age of 15.

Ask your doctor to run blood tests for Celiac Disease. There are a total of 5 blood tests that make up the Celiac Panel, and I can provide you with a list if you need it. The blood tests are not super reliable, though, and often result in false negatives. A positive blood test though, is a diagnosis.

Unfortunately, most doctors are not knowledgeable about this disease, even though statistics show that 1 in 133 people have it.

I cut gluten out of my diet and started feeling better almost immediately.

At the very least do a Google search and read up on it. Start comparing your symptoms to what you read from others. You don't need a doctor's diagnosis to cut gluten out of your diet, and that is usually the best indicator if gluten is your problem anyway.

Feel free to ask me questions if you have them.

 

[buttercrunch]

I agree, wheat/gluten intolerance could be the problem, get tested, it makes a world of difference for me when I'm gluten-free!

 

[Katmar]

I agree, wheat/gluten intolerance could be the problem, get tested, it makes a world of difference for me when I'm gluten-free!

What all have you cut out from your diet, buttercrunch? Man, when I have read about it, it seems almost impossible to avoid gluten in some form or another.

 

[W Axl Rose]

I have to stay away from sorbitol too. The old fashioned sugar sweetened gums do not contain it. Sorbitol is also in diet pop (or some of them?)

 

[discoqueen]

Katmar, I know you didn't ask me specifically but here's my answer anyway.

It was really tough at first, but once I figured out that there are suitable replacements for things like bread, pizza crust, and pasta, it sure made it a whole lot easier!

you have to read read read every single label. I've slipped up a few times in the last year and a half that I've been gluten free, and I pay dearly for it every single time.
It just makes me that much more vigilant.

 

[Katmar]

Katmar, I know you didn't ask me specifically but here's my answer anyway.

It was really tough at first, but once I figured out that there are suitable replacements for things like bread, pizza crust, and pasta, it sure made it a whole lot easier!

you have to read read read every single label. I've slipped up a few times in the last year and a half that I've been gluten free, and I pay dearly for it every single time.
It just makes me that much more vigilant.

No problem and thanks, discoqueen. Now, what exactly ARE suitable replacements for the above????

 

[buttercrunch]

katmar I'll send you a pm!

 

[discoqueen]

Here's some things I love.

Udi's Foods Whole Grain Bread - made with rice flour instead of wheat flour, and certified gluten free

Bob's Red Mill - I use a variety of products from this company, but mostly their all purpose baking mix. I use it in cookies, cakes, quick breads/muffins. Certified gluten free.

Tinkyada or DeBoles pasta - everything from lasagna noodles to elbow macaroni. Again, rice based instead of wheat based. There are also some really good buckwheat pastas out there. I can find some brand names for you if you like.

Sweets like cookies & brownies - French Meadow Bakery makes some awesome brownies and chocolate chip cookies; Pamela's has some good chocolate chip cookies

Basically if you go gluten free and you miss something from your pre-gluten free days, there is a substitute for it. There are a couple of message boards that I frequent when I'm looking for recipes or products, with hundreds of gluten free members that are more than willing to help. If you want the names of those, feel free to PM me!

 

[Katmar]

Here's some things I love.

Udi's Foods Whole Grain Bread - made with rice flour instead of wheat flour, and certified gluten free

Bob's Red Mill - I use a variety of products from this company, but mostly their all purpose baking mix. I use it in cookies, cakes, quick breads/muffins. Certified gluten free.

Tinkyada or DeBoles pasta - everything from lasagna noodles to elbow macaroni. Again, rice based instead of wheat based. There are also some really good buckwheat pastas out there. I can find some brand names for you if you like.

Sweets like cookies & brownies - French Meadow Bakery makes some awesome brownies and chocolate chip cookies; Pamela's has some good chocolate chip cookies

Basically if you go gluten free and you miss something from your pre-gluten free days, there is a substitute for it. There are a couple of message boards that I frequent when I'm looking for recipes or products, with hundreds of gluten free members that are more than willing to help. If you want the names of those, feel free to PM me!

Sounds like a plan, disco...please pm me for that info, if you would.

katmar I'll send you a pm!

I appreciate that, buttercrunch!!

Looking forward to learning more and where to look in the thousands of sites!!

 

[bobtow]

I use to think I was wheat intollerant. I had heartburn from an early age. Itried switching to other grains like rice and Spelt but continued to have problems. Then I wandred upon an article from a water ionizer. A form of water filter that extracts chlorine and other nasties from the water, then alkaizes it . The doctor who created it is of the opinion that acids accumulate in the body, and upsets the proper ph of our systems. Thus sickness and food intollerances. In the very least it gets a person great tasting water. It took three years and I seldom get heartburn. Look up Water Ionizers. My wife and I only drank water in our coffee. Now we drink mostly water.